281From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Jan. 4. per Packet but none from Mrs. Franklin, whom you mention as writing at the same time. I lament the Death of my old good Friend Mr. Hall, but am glad to understand he has left a Son fit to carry on the Business, which wish he may do with as good a Character and as good Success as his Father. The Gentleman who reported that...
282From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 3 March 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress <London, March 3, 1773: Has received Colden’s letter of Jan. 7 enclosing Ritchie on Hyndman, Lancaster & Co. for £100, and hopes it will be paid, for “we have had too many bad ones of late.”>
283From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am favoured with yours of Jan. 5. and am glad to hear that you and yours are well. The Flour and Bisket came to hand in good Order. I am much oblig’d to you and your Brother for your Care in sending them. I believe I wrote you before that the Demand made upon us on Account of the Packet Letters was withdrawn as being without Foundation. As to the...
284From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I had no Line from you per last Packet. But I had the Satisfaction of hearing you were well by Mr. Beache’s Letter. I wrote to you per Capt. All, and sent you some little Things. I continue well, and am ever, Your affectionate Husband Bache’s letter was that of Jan. 4 above, and BF ’s by Capt. All was, we assume, that of Feb. 14.
285From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you largely by Capt. All, and sent you several Books, some Seeds, &c mentioned in my Letter, and one thing more, viz. a plated Tea Boiler, of Bolton’s make, which I hope will prove good and please. I have not yet got the Bill. I have since receiv’d yours of Jan. 5. which I shall answer largely by next Opportunity, which I suppose will be...
286Preface to the Declaration of the Boston Town Meeting, February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston … (London, 1773), pp. i–vi. In July, 1772, the Massachusetts House of Representatives petitioned the crown to stop paying Governor Hutchinson’s salary. At the end of September rumor spread that the judges were to be similarly paid, and a month later the Bostonians began a series of town meetings...
287From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress By Capt. All I send a Box directed to you containing a Number of Parcels for different People, which I request you to take care of that they may be carefully delivered. Among the rest there are 5 Doz Maps in a Roll with your Name on the Outside, of which you may take 6 for yourself, send Six to your Brother at Burlington, and give the rest to my...
288From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Davenport, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Although Franklin’s nephew has often appeared in these volumes, he remains a shadowy figure; his only clear characteristic is that he drew financial troubles to him like his cousin, Benjamin Mecom. Davenport had been for a time a baker in Philadelphia, then a storekeeper and Indian agent in Pittsburgh. By 1766 he was back in Philadelphia, where he...
289From Benjamin Franklin to Nathaniel Falconer, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I thank you heartily for your very kind Present of Nuts and Apples, they are both excellent, and very much refresh me. We were sorry to miss you at Christmas. If you will not come and keep it with us, we must e’en go and keep it with you. If the Land Affair is ever compleated, (which God only knows whether it will be or not) you may rely on my taking...
290From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congres s I wrote to you a few Days since by the Packet. In a Box directed to Mr. Bache I send a striped Cotton and Silk Gown for you, of a Manufacture now much the Mode here. There is another for Sally. People line them with some old Silk Gown, and they look very handsome. There goes also a Bedstead for Sally, sent on Capt. All’s telling Mrs. Stevenson that...
291From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Your late Letters of Oct. 13, 29, Nov. 3, Dec. 1. and 4. lying all before me, I shall answer the Particulars in order; such I mean as I have not answered by other Opportunities. I have written to Mr. Bolton of Birmingham for a Plated Tea Urn, he being by far the best Maker, and his Work of the newest Fashion. If it does not come in time to go by this...
292From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you the 6th of last Month in answer to your Favours of Oct. 18 and 30. Since which I have no Line from you, the New York January Packet not being yet arrived. The Bill on Col. Johnston, which I mentioned as likely to be protested, is since paid. The Gentleman trifled about it a good deal; first refus’d to accept it, then came to me and...
293From Benjamin Franklin to Rebecca Haydock [Garrigues], 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I send my young Friend’s Silk in a Box [to] Mr. Bache, who will deliver it to her. Enclos’d is the Maker’s Account and Sarah Forster’s Receipt, for Eight Pounds Six Shillings, which you will please to repay to Mrs. Franklin. I did not well understand the first Account and therefore to explain it Mrs. Forster got the Maker to draw another more...
294From Benjamin Franklin to the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Favours of Oct. 20. and Nov. 4. which I communicated to Mr. Barclay and Dr. Fothergill; and we have acted in Compliance with the Directions therein contained, by selling Part of the Stock and paying your Drafts. I suppose Mr. Barclay has informed you of the Particulars. I wish you Joy of so considerable an Acquisition to the Hospital,...
295From Benjamin Franklin to Humphry Marshall, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; letterbook draft: Library of Congress A considerable Time after its Arrival I received the Box of Seeds you were so good as to send me the Beginning of last Year, with your Observations on the Spots of the Sun. The Seeds I distributed among some of my Friends who are curious; please to accept my thankful Acknowledgements for them: The Observations I communicated...
296From Benjamin Franklin to William Marshall, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I duly received your respected Letter of Oct. 30. and am very sensible of the Propriety and Equity of the Act passed to indulge your Friends in their Scruples relating to the Mode of Taking an Oath which you plead for so ably by numerous Reasons. That Act with others has now been some time laid before his Majesty in Council. I have not yet heard of...
297From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; letterbook draft: Library of Congress In a Box to Mr. Bache I send you a Bundle of the Ephemerides; they came but lately to hand with Duplicates for me; tho’ it appears by my Letter that they were sent from Paris last May was twelvemonth. Where they have been all this time I have not learnt. I send you also one of Dr. Priestly’s Pamphlets, containing a...
298From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Smith, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am much obliged by the Trouble you have taken in receiving the Salary for me. You will shortly hear from me as to the Application of it. In the meantime please to accept my thankful Acknowledgements; and if I can here render you any Service, you will do me a Pleasure in commanding freely, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant For the former...
299From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am glad to learn that the Turnip Seed and the Rhubarb grow with you and that the Turnip is approved. It may be depended on that the Rhubarb is the genuine Sort. But to have the Root in perfection, it ought not to be taken out of the Ground in less than 7 Years. Herewith I send you a few Seeds of what is called the Cabbage Turnip. They say that will...
300From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Benezet, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received with Pleasure yours of Sept. 13. as it informed me of your Welfare. With this I send you one of Young’s Night Thoughts, the largest Print I could find. I thank you for the 4 Copies you sent me of your Translation of the French Book: I have given two of them to Friends here, whom I thought the Subject might suit. I have commenc’d an...
301From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I duly receiv’d your Favour of [Nov. 17 ] and have after a long Delay got the S[ilk f]rom the Custom House. The Throwsters appointed to inspect it there, in order to ascertain the Bounty, valued it at 15 s. the small pound the whole taken together, and afterwards wanted to buy it of me at that Price. But suspecting their Offer to be too low, I have...
302From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress The Account of your Illness gave me great Concern, and I was glad to learn by yours of Nov 16. that you were mending. I hope by this time you are perfectly recovered. I have given you Credit for the Silk Committee’s Bill of £152 2 s. 9 d. and have paid Wheeler the 20 Guineas you ordered. I was in the Country when the Truss was sent by Mr. Hewson, to...
303From Benjamin Franklin to James Hunter, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I duly received your Letter of Nov. 16. and in Answer acquaint you, that you may draw on me for Eighty-seven Pounds ten Shillings Sterling at 30 Days Sight, and the Bill shall be punctually paid. I am glad your Daughter is arrived at an Age when the Money may be of Use to her, and I wish her and you good Luck with it. When you draw send me a Letter...
304From Benjamin Franklin to James Johnston, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Letter, with the Sample of N. American Senna, which I put into the Hands of a Friend who is a great Botanist as well as a Physician, and has made some Trial of it. He tells me that to render it merchantable here, the Stalks should be pick’d out, and the Leaves pack’d up neatly, as that is which comes from the Levant. Perhaps among...
305From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 3 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Nov. 3. with the Extracts from Mr. Hooper’s Letter, and Remarks of Mr. Morgan which will come under Consideration in due time. As yet the Grant has not pass’d the Seals, tho’ we are kept in continual Expectation. I am oblig’d to Mr. Baynton and you for the Communication. The Demolishing Fort Pitt was a strange Measure. It might...
306From Benjamin Franklin to Theophylact Bache, 3 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am much oblig’d by your Favour of Dec. 10. with the 2 Barrels of Apples which prove excellent, and are a great Refreshment to me. Please to accept my Thanks, and best Wishes for your Prosperity. I thank you for your Kind Attention to Mr. Chysholme. I hope he will at last be fix’d to his Mind. Enclos’d is a Letter from your good Mother, which will...
307From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I send you herewith some Seeds, and shall send more for your Friends, by the Philad. Ships, by whom I shall write more fully. They are Peas of a valuable Sort, and the Turnip Cabbage which abides the Frost of Winter, and therefore of great Use as Feed in the Spring before any other appears. They were given me by our good Friend Mr. Todd. Yours of Oct....
308From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 2 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I receiv’d yours of Dec. 2. enclosing a Bill Hancock on Haley & Hopkins for £150 for Account of the Gen. Post-Office. Inclos’d I return you the Bill, Dunn on Long, Drake and Long, for £100 Sterling, with the Protest which costs 5 s. 9 d. I hope you are careful to give me Credit for these Protested Bills. I sent you two per last Packet, and one by...
309From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Since my last I have got the Apples on shore, and they come out very good. Accept my best Thanks. Mr. Bache of NYork has also kindly sent me two Barrels, Capt. Winn one, and Capt. Falconer One. I told you before that Capt. All gave me one, so that I am now plentifully supply’d. I know you love to have a Line from me by every Packet; so I write tho’ I...
310Franklin’s Conjecture on the Foregoing, [after 12 August 1772] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: the Royal Society The Aurora Boreales , tho’ visible almost every Night of clear Weather in the more Northern Regions, and very high in the Atmosphere, can scarce be visible in England but when the Atmosphere is pretty clear of Clouds for the whole Space between us and those Regions, and therefore are seldom visible here. This extensive Clearness may have been produced by a long...